The council is completely different from the last time I visited here. Well, the place itself has not changed much. There is still the market acting as the heart of the place. Right now, none of the shops are open. Instead, they are crowding around the council to get a glimpse of me.
Looks like information about my identity has leaked. I can see it in the way that the people here are acting. I am surprised that the people have not already begun to riot. The people certainly looked ready to do that. There is venom in the eyes of these people. Well, venom is the wrong word. I think it would be better to call it a kind of morbid excitement. It is the look they would give a convict on his way to the executioner.
There is a clear tension in the air that was not there the last time. I can see why the council has to be careful in dealing with these people. Just the smallest thing might set these people off and you cannot say who it will explode on. The people could just end up ripping me to pieces, right now. The only thing preventing them is the council's guards.
(A couple of minutes.)
It is time for me to focus. This time, the court is more familiar. I do not have anything to add to my previous description of the place. This is a simple place with a simple purpose. Not that it makes it any less intimidating to deal with.
The arrangement of the five tribes is also the same as the last time. The people are also the same. Only the representative of the tattoo tribe is different this time. I am not able to get a read on the man who has replaced the lady.
Compared to the lady the last time, he is much older. He certainly seems to hold more power than the lady. At least the man intimidates the people here. That I can tell from the way the other people in the room are behaving. Even the men of the blood tribe are taking on a more alert posture.
The man begins to speak, his voice heavy and has a gravitas that only experience can bring.
"Well, we have come here to deal with this mess.", speaks the man, his voice a challenge to every person in the room. "This thing has gone on for a week too long. I call the trial of this legioner to head. Anybody who has a problem with that can voice it now."
Nobody rises to the challenge. Thus the man speaks.
"Well, do any of the other clans want to vote on this man's fate? The beast tribe and the tattoo tribe have already voted and have no desire to change it. Does any of the other tribes want to change their votes?" He speaks on. With the way that his presence magnifies, I understand that this is a threat.
"Well, the last time the control of the council was in the hands of a leader who was a novice. It was her first time here.", he says, this time at me. "You shall find no opportunity to shoot your mouth here, legioner. Such obvious attempts at dividing us. As can be expected of the legion."
"Well, my lord. I just answered the questions that were asked by the blood tribe.", I reply. I struggle a bit to get the words out, but this is no commander. He barely caused me to stutter. He speaks to me again, some kind of a threat maybe.
"The lord says that you do not need to answer any questions then.", Cloak speaks behind.
The man shifts his attention away from me completely, now speaking to the blood tribe.
"Lord of the blood tribe, do you change your decision?" he speaks. "I have warned you against the outsiders for centuries now. Don't fall to their words now. Trusting a man who is with the legion of all things."
This time, the man of the blood tribe speaks. There is still no fear in his voice, but there is a clear edge to his words. I wonder if weapons are going to be crossed today.
"My lord, the blood tribe knows what is good for it and what is not. We do not need you to tell us that.", he says. "As for our vote, we shall change nothing. The man will not die due to this duel of yours, if we can help it."
"As my predecessor must have pointed out, this is not an execution. What can we do if the kid is arrogant enough to challenge a snowlord with his paltry strength? He must be ready for the consequences of accepting a duel and trying to cheat on it." he speaks, his presence pressing on the man as it did with me. "The rules of the duel have to be respected. It is the very foundation of our council."
Well, it did not even have the effect on him that it did on me. If anything, it just helped to piss off the other side.
"That is what you tell. Though knowing what the kid has told us, it would be wiser for you to take care of your allies before us.", he says. "The vote of the blood tribe will not change. The kid shall not duel your snowlord."
"Fine, then, lord of the wolf tribe. Do you change your vote?" he asks them, the annoyance clear in his tone.
Well, the lord of the wolf tribe is a man of few words. Even during the previous trial, the man did not speak much.
"We do not change it, lord of the tattoo tribe.", he speaks. "This is not a fair fight. Thus respecting the spirit of the duel, we do not approve of it. As you say, it is the foundation of our existence."
The man does not try and convince the other side more than this. With that, he turns to the spear tribe, who will be deciding my fate.
"Lord of the spear tribe, this council is then brought to you. You have withheld your right to vote in the last trial as well.", speaks the man of the spear tribe.
"Well, I thank you, representative of the tattoo tribe.", he says. "We have reason to believe that your snowlord has lied about issuing the challenge to the duel. We shall verify the validity of the charge levied from the accused. Does the lord grant us the right to do that?"
"Yes, I give you that right.", he says, contradicting his statement from a few moments ago.
(After almost an hour.)
Right now, I can feel my head slow down. It is almost like I have suddenly woken up from sleep. I have been spending the last hour speaking continuously.
The spear tribe has been continuously questioning me about the fight I had with the snowlord. They questioned me about every aspect of it for the last hour. This is to the point that I have been repeating my answers for a while now. I don't mind though, I can tell from their tone that I have convinced them.
I don't know what exactly they are looking for in grilling me like this. They finally stopped about a minute ago. I can still feel my head ringing from the amount of talking that they have made me do. I almost do not catch what they are saying. A few moments later, I hear the translation.
"The spear tribe has questioned the kid and found that the laws of the duel have been violated here. The duel will have to be conducted again." the man speaks, pausing for a moment. "At the same time, we have to agree that the wolf tribe is also right. This duel, while true to the laws, will go against the spirit of the duel. We cannot, therefore, support the motion to conduct a duel. We therefore vote against this duel."
As I am processing this, the lord of the spear tribe goes on.
"We propose an alternative. We would believe that a winter's loop would be a fairer method of conducting this duel." He speaks. "After all, it began to be considered as a duel to answer for this exact power difference."
"Are you sure, lord of the spear tribe?" speaks the man at the tattoo tribe, his voice taking a very dangerous edge. Anywhere else, that tone would have meant swords would be drawn. Not that we are very far away from swords being drawn here.
"We are more than sure, lord of the tattoo tribe. The man has the relevant skills to control a sledder as well. Cloak has confirmed that to us. It is the ideal choice of a duel.", the spear lord replies. "It will level the playing field for all parties involved."
"You have been speaking with Cloak, have you? Well then, we shall accept this alternative.", he says. "Whichever tribe agrees to this, raise their hands."
None of the tribes speaks, as the spear tribe, tattoo tribe, and the beast tribe raise their hands.
"With that cleared, we have to discuss which tribe will be taking charge of the legioner.", he says. "With every passing day, the presence of the legioner is causing chaos. We cannot get away with putting him in the black tower anymore. I am surprised that black tower has not been attacked already. One of us will have to take charge of his security. We of the tattoo tribe will not take charge of his security, though. We won't be able to assure his safety."
"The beast tribe will not be able to manage to protect the kid. We will not take charge of the kid.", the beast tribe speaks.
And then everybody starts speaking. Even Cloak stops trying to translate them. Even he seems to be struggling to keep up with all the people suddenly speaking.
(After about fifteen minutes.)
I have no idea what the fuck is going on here. All I can tell is that nobody wants to take responsibility for my safety except for two tribes. Right now, the main argument is happening between the spear tribe and the wolf tribe. I don't know why the Spear tribe is so passionate about this or why they are so worried about my safety. I can't help feeling that there is some ulterior motive there.
I don't think I need to worry about it, though. The wolf tribe is the one that is winning this particular debate. Unless the wolf tribe representative fumbles, they should win this.
Just as the debate seemingly reaches its end, a voice in the room causes everybody to shut up. It takes me a moment to realize that it is the lord of the blood tribe that speaks. There is steel in the man's voice, even more than usual. Even as I can feel myself shivering, the translation comes.
"The lord of the blood tribe has taken responsibility for your protection. He has informed the council that you will be taken to the bloody city." Cloak translates from behind me, the tone of shock in his voice clear. "He shall take you there immediately after the end of the council. He is asking the representative of the tattoo tribe to end the council so that everybody can be on their way."
As I am hearing the translation, the tension in the room has taken on a new level. Finally, the representative of the tattoo tribe barks something.
Almost as soon as that statement ends, all the figures present there rise at the same moment. (as if they are running a race.) Again, it feels like there is going to be a fight as the council leaves, while Cloak is dragging me out of the place.
(After about five minutes.)
I can feel the blood pound in my head like a drum as Cloak makes me rush through the complicated tunnels of the council. He does not even dare to stop for a few moments, as we just keep running through the place.
He has finally stopped now, which is why I have started this thing again. The reason that he has stopped is due to a bunch of snow tribe people, all armed to their teeth.
I don't recognize any of them, other than the five that are leading them. This is the blood tribe, it looks like.